The Dubai Police Academy was founded in 1987, and was granted autonomy from the police force as long as it retains some affiliation with Dubai Police General Headquarters. It was fully inaugurated in 1989 in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In 1992, degrees offered by the academy were made equal to degrees from universities.

In 1994 His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research issued decree number (51), 1994. The decree authorized the Dubai Police Academy to run graduate course in accordance with the Federation Act no. (4), 1992.

The decree included accrediting the degrees offered by the Dubai Police Academy; these are the bachelor's degree in law and police sciences and the bachelor's degree in law in the first university degree.

diploma in police sciences; doctor of criminal sciences; doctor of private law; doctor of public law; higher diploma in general law; higher diploma in private law; license in law and police sciences; license in law; master of law in criminal sciences; master of law in general law; master of law in international investments and commercial law; master of law in private law; master of police sciences in criminal investigation; master of police sciences in security crisis management; diploma in criminal sciences; master of human rights